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<DIV>Yes, it's another one of those "Dawn Stories".</DIV>
<DIV>Fair warning, get out the Kleenex.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bufurd's story is a roller coaster and must be told beginning to end.</DIV>
<DIV>It's been several years now that a call came in from a vet hospital in
Riverside - a walk in client with a young male basset - had just sustained
multiple Mojave green rattlesnake bites. Venom from a Mojave Green is a
neurotoxin and one of the most venomous snakes around. No anti venom is
available. This particular client was poverty stricken and the vet knew we
had some experience with alternative care. He asked if we could
assist. For 5 days almost hourly calls went back and forth giving
instruction on how to care for this 2 year old female using vitamin therapy and
homeopathy. She recovered exceptionally well. A month went by and then a
call - "God must have brought you to me, my husband is being transferred and we
are moving I must give up ALL my basset babies".</DIV>
<DIV>In 5 days there was never a mention of another canine, let alone "All" the
bassets. Arrangements were made. A frantic late night call alerted us that
the female who had taken this strike was actually pregnant at the time of
strike, and was whelping. Something was wrong. I would think so. We
had the Firecracker pups just whelped that week, and so arrangements were made
to get this mom and pups to BHRSC, we sent our volunteer on down - and Gigi
called very shaken. It turned out this property was a puppy mill and over
400 canines were living amongst rattlesnake carcass, in old tires with chicken
wire over them and the conditions were horrible.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We went for a mom and 2 pups, we came out with 8 bassets, including 2
moms with puppies.</DIV>
<DIV>Cinch with Lois and Viv were among this family. The "Stud" was a
beautiful yet scared male whom was named Bufurd. Bufurd had sired many,
many litters and as horrible as this may sound, tonight it does my heart good to
know that the wonder of Bufurd is still around.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One by one the hounds found homes, and yet Bufurd the shy gent stayed with
us. Dr. Kim was very saddened today when we met for Bufurd's final visit -
cancer had become malignant some time ago, and throughout the last year Bufurd
has defied the grim reaper time and time again. Aunt Sandi's visit in
April had her saying.... He won't last the week. Bufurd proved her
wrong as only stubborn hounds can do.</DIV>
<DIV>His favorite game was to hide from his Aunt Rita and wait for Momma
Dawn to come on up, he then cast Rita a glance and would gently walk into his
run as if to say "So there!". How the seniors wrap themselves
around our hearts! At bed time Bufurd always listened closely for his
bedtime song and would not lay his head down until the last stanza and I made a
point of adding - I love you truly, Bufurd, Dear.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The last week has been touch and go, and so it was today - en route to pick
up our newest young man Hunter undergoing the Daphneyland Make-Over, that
Bufurd and I took a drive. Aunt Rita had cooked him a steak, we stopped
for a double cheese-bacon burger with seasoned curly fries, the chocolate mother
lode cake seemed to satisfy his appetite during our final special lunch.
I broke at singing and could only whisper in his ear; I love you truly -
truly Bufurd. I sent him off to the rainbow bridge with requests for all
our babies awaiting us there.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dinner and close down was hard, as Wil, Phil, Maggie May, Louis and I
walked in the cloudy moonlight, I could not help but think of the ending of the
afternoon, my crying with tears of all that we had wanted for Bufurd, and his
embracing life at Daphneyland - so happy to have a warm bed amidst thunder,
lightening - running under soft summer stars, basking in the sunshine, the glint
in his eye when he tore into a bag of trash and destroyed the grooming room for
the 10th time, his climbing up a palet of kibble and tearing into the bag
halfway up..... Eternally Bufurd.</DIV>
<DIV>Bufurd left my arms, I cried a bit on Dr. Kim, always my hero, and
then we walked in to meet the young man Hunter.......</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As a wonderful gent leaves, a new man walks in.</DIV>
<DIV>Thank you one and all for allowing us to continue the journey. What a
learning experience the hounds give us every day, and in every way.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Candles burn bright for those gone before us, always in our hearts.</DIV>
<DIV>(and many on my mantle!!)</DIV>
<DIV>As I drove back from Dr. Kim's office, I began to sing... "When
you wish upon a star..." and a pair of dark brown eyes looked at me with
wonder. I couldn't help but add "I'll love you truly, Hunter, Dear."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dawn of the West</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><A
href="http://www.daphneyland.com">www.daphneyland.com</A><BR>661
269-2682<BR><BR>Daily rehabilitation and socialization of up to 100 basset
hounds and some mixes - public viewing and visitation are Saturdays &
Sundays from 11 - 5. Come and rub bellies in person! Volunteer opportunities
abound!<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#ff0000 size=2 face=Arial
FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">DAPHNEYLAND IS CLOSED OCTOBER 24, 2010 FOR THE
BASSET HOUND PICNIC IN ARCADIA PARK.<BR>HUNDREDS OF HOUNDS IN COSTUME, WAGGING
TAILS, LONG EARS A DAY OF HOUNDS. REGISTER AT <A
href="http://www.bhcsc.com/">WWW.BHCSC.COM</A></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#ff0000
size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>